Ignite the phoenix within | with Kara Swanson

I had the joy to engage in a heartfelt conversation with my dear friend Kara Swanson, discussing the importance of grace, self-awareness, and the transformative power of storytelling. Through her personal journey and the characters she breathes life into in her fiction books, Kara intricately weaves together themes of resilience, healing, and the significance of self-awareness in shaping our personal narrative towards deeper faith. Her commitment to guiding and empowering young writers also reflects her own journey of finding purpose and connection.

Listen here: https://www.podcastics.com/episode/282711/link/ 
You can also catch us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/gospelspice 

Kara beautifully articulates the power of storytelling as a means of finding identity, especially when navigating cultural differences and personal experiences. Growing up as a missionary kid, Kara felt isolated and found solace in the world of fiction. Through her writing, she sought to process her own experiences and bridge cultural divides through the lens of the gospel. Her focus on young adult fiction takes readers on a journey of self-discovery and personal empowerment, inviting both young and seasoned readers to reflect on their own journeys.

Kara emphasizes the importance of extending grace to ourselves and others, understanding the impact of cultural influences on one's sense of self-worth and identity. Through her characters in her upcoming book "Ignite," Kara captures the transformative power of self-awareness and the impact of external influences on personal growth. She underlines the significance of surrounding ourselves with healthy relationships and support systems as we navigate our journey for deeper self-awareness, to lead us deeper into God in Christ Jesus through the Holy Spirit.

Kara's advocacy through her storytelling encourages readers to embrace their emotions without letting them define their worth. Her commitment to creating characters that embody selflessness and resilience resonates deeply, offering an invitation for healing, growth, and self-acceptance.

A few take-aways I will treasure from our conversation:

1. Self-awareness leads to God-awareness. It takes a lot of accumulated wisdom to know yourself well, which is necessary to enter into deeper intimacy with God in Christ through the Holy Spirit.
2. Give yourself grace and move forward with care and intention.
3. Let your journey of God-ward healing reflect in your work and personal growth.
4. Don’t be afraid to address themes of identity and personal responsibility, especially when ministering to young people.
5. Question the narratives fed to you by the surrounding culture, and discover your true purpose in Christ.
6. Strive for self-awareness, introspection, and the journey towards an other-centered mindset, in the footsteps of Jesus Christ.
7. Channel your experiences into creative outlets to process pain and empower others.
8. Understand that feelings are real but not always true; they don't define your value or worth.
9. Seek self-awareness and surround yourself with healthy, godly Christ-centered believers for support and growth.
10. Support and encourage others, despite differences in experiences and self-awareness.

CONNECT WITH KARA SWANSON

Kara Swanson writes stories about fairy tales and fiery souls. She spent her childhood a little like a Lost Girl, running barefoot through lush green jungles which inspired her award-winning Peter Pan retellings, Dust and Shadow. She is also the cofounder of the Author Conservatory where she has the honor of teaching young writers to craft sustainable author careers. You’ll find Kara with her toes in California sand as a SoCal resident, belting Broadway show tunes on weekend drives to Disneyland with her delightfully nerdy husband, or chatting about magic and mayhem on Instagram (@karaswansonauthor).

Author Conservatory:

https://authorconservatory.com

Website:

https://www.karaswanson.com/ 

Social Media:

https://www.instagram.com/karaswansonauthor/

https://www.facebook.com/karaswansonauthor

Books:

Dust - 

http://tinyurl.com/DustbyKaraSwanson

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dust-kara-swanson/1136014686?ean=9781621841265

Shadow - 

http://tinyurl.com/ShadowbyKaraSwanson

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shadow-kara-swanson/1136014685?ean=9781621841753

Ignite -

http://tinyurl.com/IgnitebyKaraSwanson

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ignite-kara-swanson/1144909279?ean=9798886051346

DISCOVER “IGNITE”

 Can Mara survive in a world where the fire in her veins is worth killing for?

In a frozen wasteland suffocating beneath a dying sun, Mara is a young phoenix raised by her father to explode at his command. He’s the only one who can help her control her fire, and Mara desperately follows his orders to protect their phoenix family from relentless human hunters. Her sheltered existence is shattered when her family mysteriously vanishes, thrusting Mara into a perilous quest to find them. Along the way, she unravels a devastating truth: her people may not be the innocent victims she's been taught to believe. When she comes face-to-face with the kindhearted Eli, she begins to wonder if the humans aren’t the monsters she's always feared. What if the greatest danger doesn’t lie in the icy world outside—but in the truth of who Mara really is?